Placement Exams and Waivers

Requirements:

200 level of any World Language or passing all sections of STAMP test at Intermediate
Low or above.

Many seniors discover that they are unable to graduate because they postponed their
World Language classes till the last semester and do not have time to take the required
courses. Only those who have completed the required courses or who can demonstrate
relatively high proficiency in the target language through written and oral proficiency
exams meet the requirement for graduation.

Why is there a World Language Requirement?

Do you still wonder why the University has a World Language requirement? Just think
of the world around us: a world, where 52% of population is bilingual; a world whose
citizens speak 6000 different languages; a world that entices us with travel, news,
books, films, museums, foods, people; a world that makes us face stiff competition
for jobs, sales, advertising, research, and diplomacy. To be among the 20% of Americans
who speak more than one language and among even fewer of those who understand a different
culture gives you an invaluable advantage in this competitive world.

Classes:

All World language classes at 100 and 200 levels are sequential, which means that
you need to take one following the other. Therefore, you should reserve sufficient
time to meet the Multilingual Competency requirement. You might want to know that
once you have met your University requirement for World languages, you are just 3
courses away from getting a World Language minor. So an early start in a World Language
course gives you many opportunities and reduces potential stress before graduation.

Transfer Credits:

Please, be aware that if you choose to take classes at a community college or another
university, they need to be approved by the Department of World Languages and Literatures
prior to your enrollment. We do NOT accept on-line classes in World Languages from
other institutions.

Placement Assessment:

If you choose to continue studying the language that you started in High School or
under other circumstances, you are required to take an electronic placement assessment
in that language. Please, contact Dr. Christine Barrett at barrettc1@southernct.edu
to schedule your test.

Taking a New World Language:

If you decide to take a brand new language that you have never studied, you do not
have to take the self-placement assessment and can enroll in 100-level of that language.

If you are fluent in a language other than English:

Students may be granted a waiver of world language requirement with credit based on
the following:

In order to waive the language requirement, students who are proficient in the language
will take the STAMP test. For languages that are not offered by STAMP, students will
be required to take ACTFL Oral Proficiency Interview and Written Production test and
pass it at the required proficiency levels for that language.Advanced Placement (AP)
exam (a score of 4 grants a 3 credit waiver; a score of 5 grants a 6 credit waiver).CLEP
exam.

Students who are native speakers of a language other than English may be granted a
waiver of world language requirement with credit based on one of the following documents:

High school diploma or its equivalent from the student's native language country,
not an American high school.ACTFL Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI) and Written Production
Test (WPT) passed at Intermediate Mid level. To register for these tests, you may
contact www.languagetesting.com Please, realize that this exam costs additional money
and requires a proctor.STAMP test scoring at Intermediate Mid Level in all skills.
To take the STAMP test, you need to purchase it at the bookstore and then sign up
to take it at the Open Lab in EN B131.